United Nations peacekeeping operations: new trends

NEW YORK, 11 June 2014

STATEMENT BY
H.E. Karel J.G. van Oosterom
Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
to the United Nations
Open Debate of the Security Council on
“United Nations peacekeeping operations: new trends”

Mr President,

Thank you for organizing this timely and important debate about the continued
evolution of Peacekeeping Operations.

The Netherlands aligns itself with the statement by the European Union.

We would like to take this opportunity to pay our respect to the men and
women who have sacrificed so much in the service of Peace. In particular we pay
homage to those fallen in Peacekeeping operations and welcome the renewed
attention for the commemoration of fallen peacekeepers on the 29th
of May. We express the hope that further enhancements to the commemoration will
be agreed upon in the coming year.

Our common aim is to improve mission effectiveness, protect civilians and
personnel, and facilitate transition after the end of conflict. To realize this
aim, in our view four dimensions are fundamental: Innovation, Integration,
Instruction and Information.

Innovation

Circumstances in which peacekeeping operations take place have changed
fundamentally. In the past, the key function of missions was inter-position in
fixed locations between states. Nowadays, non-state actors, rapidly changing
environments, challenges which are at the same time military, political and
socio-economic, new threats and new mandates call for new and innovative
approaches for our peacekeeping missions.

Key elements for us are the use of new technical possibilities, enhanced
robustness and the need for guaranteed escalation dominance. For our
contribution to MINUSMA, the Netherlands has deployed cutting-edge equipment and
technology. The more effective we can make Peacekeeping Operations, the sooner
transition to the post-conflict phase can take place.

The new challenges also call for better integration of our efforts.

Integration

Peacekeeping operations cannot function in isolation. In conflict-situations
peace, justice and development issues are closely interlinked. Therefore
planning of peacekeeping operations must integrate Diplomacy, Defense and
Development (3D-approach). This integration should be done at the strategic,
operational and tactical level and during the whole lifecycle of a mission.

At the operational and tactical level, strengthening logistical support to
balance mission tasks with the necessary assets will help mission start-up and
effectiveness.

Civil-military co-operation and coordination at the country level are
fundamental to effective mandate implementation. Such coordination is vital in
the complex situations in which missions operate.

Optimizing inter-mission collaboration ensures the best use of existing
assets and resources, as well as temporary backstopping when necessary.

In order to improve integrated mission planning and execution, we encourage
the strengthening of the planning capabilities in the UN secretariat and at
mission management level.

Instruction

When addressing the new challenges, we should further improvement the
instruction of peacekeepers. The most valuable asset of the United Nations is
its personnel. Our men and women serve in dangerous locations where they can
find themselves in harm’s way while upholding the ideals of the Charter and the
international community’s Responsibility to Protect.

Solid training for military and police personnel is of key importance. It
prepares them for their difficult task and directly contributes to the
effectiveness of the mission. With the multidimensional mandates of today’s
peacekeeping operations, peacekeepers need training that establishes basic
understanding of the entirety of activities conducted by a mission, as well as
the mission’s roles and responsibilities.

Special attention should be given to the gender and child protection
perspective, but also to the role of women in conflict prevention, peace-making
and peacebuilding processes. I would like to echo the EU’s words welcoming the
UN's resolve in preventing and combating sexual exploitation and abuse and
emphasize the key role senior mission leadership plays in ensuring
accountability.

Reinforcing the capacity of regional organizations to conduct such training
would be one way of providing cost-effective instruction. The Netherlands is
actively engaged with regional training programs aimed at enhancing the
capabilities of Peacekeepers.

Information

Adaptability and anticipation are fundamental requirements in situations of
conflict, and we must ensure Peacekeeping Operations fulfil both. In order to
make balanced decisions, around the clock situational awareness is crucial.

All Sources Information Fusion Units, such as fielded by the Netherlands in
MINUSMA, contribute to such awareness. They are the eyes and ears of the UN in
the field, supporting military efforts, but also contributing to the Rights Up
Front Initiative through early-warning concerning Human Rights and Protection of
Civilians. We encourage the introduction of similar units in other missions in
need of better situational awareness.

In conclusion

In applying innovation, integration, instruction and information,
peacekeeping missions will be more effective in realizing the mandates given to
them by this Security Council.

As said before, it is the ambition of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to be a
partner for peace, justice and development.

We will continue to be a partner for other member-states and the UN-system to
cooperate in making peace keeping missions more effective.